Did the Irish historically wear Kilts and carry a Sgian Dubh (dirk)?

We all know the Scottish wear kilts, but do the Irish? It’s a good question. The answer is yes they do wear kilts, although perhaps not as famously. The English wear kilts too and if you ask a Scott, Irishman, and an Englishman where kilts came from, you’d get three different answers. The Irishman will tell you the kilt was an ancient garment that was introduced to the Scottish.

Where is kilt really came from is a bit of a mystery, there is evidence of kilt and kilt like clothing as far back as the 16th century, but no conclusive evidence of its origin. The best guess we have is that the Scottish created the kilt based on Viking pleated garments. The answer to your question is still yes, the Irish have historically worn kilts.

The Sgian Dubh is a ceremonial dagger worn as part of modern Scottish Highland dress and it is worn with the kilt. Its origins are from the 17th and 18th centuries. It was then a dagger that Scots would wear concealed in the armpit. The Irish do wear the Sgian Dubh now in ceremonial dress, but there is no question that this little knife is Scottish, really that goes for the kilt too.